The streets of Paris had their own runway even before the official shows began, home to the biggest fashion house in fashion history. Paris is known for its high taste in fashion and even fashionable street wear, everyone looks like they just stepped out of a magazine or they are about to be posted at the front cover of one. From the brightly colored outfits, to the expensive accessories to match, flat berets ad waist length panty-hoses, the fashion in Paris is unmatched. Little wonder why Emily became more fashionable when she got to Paris. If you know, you know.
Paris Fashion Week isn’t just an event; it’s the heartbeat of the fashion calendar. Paris Fashion Week is the ‘playtime’ for fashion houses, the biggest in the game, and daringly enough some new houses emerge and eventually make a name for themselves. The collections shown here don’t just set trends, they define eras. Fall/Winter 2025-2026 was a season of contrasts: power and softness, nostalgia and innovation, timelessness and reinvention.
Anthony Vaccarello’s Saint Laurent was a lesson in confidence. If ever there was a collection that said, “I don’t need to scream to be heard,” this was it. Gladiator-sharp blazers were sculpted into vertical hourglass perfection, layered over sheer blouses that barely grazed the skin. Leather boots ascended the legs like second skin and, with their high-shine finish catching the lights, it felt almost sinful. Bella Hadid walked the runway with the quiet authority of someone who knows they own the room. She was swaddled in an all-black ensemble — sleek, structured and unapologetically strong. The Saint Laurent woman this season was not only dressed for success; she was dressed for conquest.
But just when the mood had settled into its dark, seductive elegance, Miu Miu flipped the script in Paris. The show opened with a burst of color, a palette that felt like it had been pulled straight from the 1960s. There was a mischievous energy to the way models moved, mini skirts barely grazing mid-thigh, oversized coats thrown over delicate lace dresses, boots clunking down the runway with attitude. It was a collection that didn’t take itself too seriously, a love letter to youthful rebellion.
Think Parisian schoolgirl meets rock-and-roll muse, a mix of polished and undone that felt undeniably fresh. Accessories were bold and playful—oversized cat-eye sunglasses, thick headbands that held back intentionally messy waves, and clutches so tiny they barely fit a lipstick.
Then came Chanel, every woman’s dream brand, and the entire room exhaled in unison. The set was designed like a dream sequence in a classic French film, all soft lighting and elegant simplicity. There was an ease to Virginie Viard’s vision—luxury without stiffness, femininity without fragility. Tweed, of course, but softer. Blazers skimmed the body instead of gripping it, and skirts moved with a gentle fluidity that suggested comfort and confidence could exist together.
Pearls weren’t just accessories; they were statements—worn as oversized chokers, wrapped around wrists, and even sewn delicately onto fabric. The models walked as if they had just stepped out of a Parisian café, effortlessly chic but never overdone. There was a quiet romance to the entire collection, proving that Chanel’s power lies not in reinvention, but in making the old feel irresistibly new again.
Paris Fashion Week is never just about the big three—Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, and Chanel. The real magic is in the unexpected moments, the designers who push boundaries in ways no one saw coming. Rick Owens brought a theatrical darkness to the week, with models emerging from clouds of smoke in exaggerated silhouettes that felt almost otherworldly. Balenciaga, ever the disruptor, blurred the lines between dystopian and desirable, sending models down the runway in armor-like outerwear that seemed made for a future we’re not quite ready for. Valentino, on the other hand, stripped things back, proving that minimalism still has a place in fashion’s fast-evolving landscape.
But beyond the individual collections at the Paris Fashion Week, a few undeniable trends emerged, setting the stage for what we’ll all be wearing (or at least dreaming about wearing) next season.
Power dressing took on a new form—less about stiff tailoring and more about strategic structure. Blazers cinched at the waist, shoulders slightly exaggerated but never overwhelming. There was a newfound balance, a harmony between strength and softness. No longer was power dressing reserved for corporate boardrooms; it was just as much about seduction, confidence, and even playfulness.
Monochrome was the color story of the season in Paris. Instead of bold prints, designers played with texture, layering different fabrics in the same shade to create depth. Saint Laurent championed all-black, while Valentino experimented with head-to-toe white. The result? A look that felt impossibly chic, as if the wearer had been dipped in luxury and emerged completely transformed.
Then there was the return of the 1960s and 1970s influence. Miu Miu wasn’t the only brand indulging in a little nostalgia—Chloé, Isabel Marant, and even Dior tapped into vintage aesthetics, bringing back knee-high boots, mod-style mini skirts, and flowy bohemian dresses. But instead of feeling dated, these pieces were reworked with modern silhouettes, making them feel fresh and relevant.
Accessories weren’t just accents; they were centerpieces. Sunglasses were oversized and dramatic, jewelry was chunky and intentional, and handbags were either comically tiny or dramatically oversized—no in-between. Gloves made a surprise comeback, from dainty lace variations at Chanel to bold, elbow-length leather versions at Saint Laurent.
And then there was sustainability, a conversation that is no longer optional in the fashion world.
Brands like Stella McCartney and Marine Serre led the way, but even legacy houses showed a commitment to ethical fashion, using recycled materials, ethical production methods, and seasonless designs meant to last beyond just a single trend cycle. The message was clear: fashion can no longer afford to be wasteful.
When Rihanna arrived, the entire atmosphere shifted. At Dior, she exuded pure Parisian drama, wrapped in a voluminous fur-trimmed coat with a sheer lace dress peeking through. Oversized sunglasses in place, her look was the perfect balance of glamour, mystery, and effortless power. She wasn’t just attending—she was the moment.
Then there was Zendaya, the queen of the front row, giving full ’60s bombshell energy at Schiaparelli. With her sky-high bouffant, sculpted leather dress, and golden embellishments, she looked like a Hollywood icon reimagined for the future. Every detail was precise, every pose deliberate—when Zendaya steps out, it’s never just fashion; it’s a masterclass.
For Balenciaga, Kylie Jenner leaned into oversized, statement outerwear, rocking a dramatically large coat that practically swallowed her frame. The sleek hair, the sunglasses, the air of quiet luxury—it was giving billionaire off-duty. And then came Doja Cat, ever the disruptor. She didn’t just wear fashion—she turned it into performance art. At Viktor & Rolf, she stepped out in an avant-garde, sculptural coat that made her look like she belonged in an art gallery rather than a front row.
Jennie of Blackpink, a Chanel ambassador and global trendsetter, kept things chic and minimalistic in a signature tweed ensemble, proving once again why she’s the epitome of understated luxury. Meanwhile, her bandmate Lisa went for a bold, all-black power look at Celine, sunglasses firmly in place, exuding confidence with every step.
At Pharrell Williams’ highly anticipated Louis Vuitton show, the guest list read like a hall of fame—Beyoncé, Jay-Z, LeBron James—all present to witness the designer’s latest vision. The collection itself was a dazzling fusion of Western influences, streetwear aesthetics, and unapologetic opulence, but the energy in the room? Unmatched.
Jared Leto knows how to keep the internet talking, and this time, he did it in a dramatic oversized fur coat that looked straight out of a fantasy film. The look was over-the-top, exaggerated, and impossible to ignore—exactly the kind of eccentricity that makes fashion fun.
Meanwhile, Rosalía embodied effortless cool, stepping out in an oversized leather-on-leather ensemble that looked both unbothered and meticulously curated. It was the perfect blend of grunge, elegance, and modern edge—exactly what you’d expect from one of music’s biggest style icons.
And then there was Tyler, the Creator, a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of dark, dramatic ensembles. While others leaned into monochrome minimalism, he delivered pastels, preppy layering, and an eccentric twist that only he could pull off. Quirky, unexpected, and completely authentic—it was a lesson in owning your aesthetic.
From Hollywood elites to K-pop superstars, music industry titans to billion-dollar moguls, Paris Fashion Week wasn’t just about what was on the runway—it was about who was watching, how they showed up, and what their presence meant. Some made statements with bold, theatrical fashion, while others proved that true style isn’t just about the clothes—it’s about the attitude, the aura, and the ability to command attention without saying a word.
The biggest takeaway from this season Paris Fashion Week was this: fashion isn’t just about clothes—it’s about identity. Saint Laurent reminded us that power dressing doesn’t have to shout to be heard. Miu Miu proved that femininity can be fun, rebellious, and slightly chaotic in the best way. Chanel reaffirmed that heritage and innovation are not mutually exclusive. And the entire week served as a testament to the fact that style isn’t just about what we wear—it’s about how we express who we are.
As the last model stepped off the final runway and the city of Paris exhaled, fashion had done what it always does best, told a story. A story of strength, of reinvention, of nostalgia, and of evolution.
